Installation and upgrade of visualizations for managed networks

Abstract

An embodiment may involve receiving a request to install or upgrade a performance analytics dashboard of a graphical user interface displayed on a client device. The performance analytics dashboard may define a data visualization related to a particular key performance indicator. A data model may represent configuration and operational characteristics of computing devices disposed within a managed network. The configuration and operational characteristics may include key performance indicators. The embodiment may also involve determining that installing or upgrading the performance analytics dashboard requires updating data within the data model. The embodiment may also involve receiving, by way of the graphical user interface, permission to update the data within the data model. The embodiment may also involve updating the data within the data model then installing or upgrading the performance analytics dashboard.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a computing device via a graphical user interface, a first user input indicative of a selection of an upgrade to a visualization displayable by the graphical user interface, wherein the visualization represents a key performance indicator associated with a managed network; 
 transmitting, to the computing device for display via the graphical user interface, code that corresponds to the upgrade to the visualization, wherein the code is defined in a data model, wherein transmitting the code causes the graphical user interface to display the code, wherein the displayed code specifies how the visualization presents information associated with the key performance indicator via the graphical user interface, and wherein the displayed code comprises a reference to the key performance indicator; 
 receiving, from the computing device via the graphical user interface, a second user input that modifies the displayed code; 
 transmitting, to the computing device via the graphical user interface, a prompt for permission to process the second user input that modifies the displayed code to generate modified code; 
 receiving, from the computing device via the graphical user interface, a third user input indicative of permission to process the second user input that modifies the displayed code to generate the modified code; and 
 storing the modified code in the data model. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise executing the upgrade to the visualization based on the modified code. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise determining that the upgrade to the visualization will update data associated with the visualization within the data model in response to receiving the first user input indicative of the selection of the upgrade to the visualization. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modified code comprises an extensible markup language (XML) definition or a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) definition. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise transmitting, to the computing device for display via the graphical user interface, respective representations of a plurality of upgrades to different visualizations displayable by the graphical user interface. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the upgrade to the visualization is selected using the respective representations of the plurality of upgrades. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise determining that a user associated with the computing device has a privilege to modify the code that corresponds to the upgrade to the visualization after receiving the first user input indicative of the selection of the upgrade to the visualization. 
     
     
       8. A method, comprising:
 receiving, from a computing device via a graphical user interface, a first user input indicative of a selection of an upgrade to a visualization displayable by the graphical user interface, wherein the visualization represents a key performance indicator associated with a managed network; 
 transmitting, to the computing device for display via the graphical user interface, code that corresponds to the upgrade to the visualization, wherein the code is defined in a data model, wherein transmitting the code causes the graphical user interface to display the code, wherein the displayed code specifies how the visualization presents information associated with the key performance indicator via the graphical user interface, and wherein the displayed code comprises a reference to the key performance indicator; 
 receiving, from the computing device via the graphical user interface, a second user input that modifies the displayed code; 
 transmitting, to the computing device via the graphical user interface, a prompt for permission to process the second user input that modifies the displayed code to generate modified code; 
 receiving, from the computing device via the graphical user interface, a third user input indicative of permission to process the second user input that modifies the displayed code to generate the modified code; and 
 storing the modified code in the data model. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , comprising executing the upgrade to the visualization based on the modified code. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , comprising determining that the upgrade to the visualization will change how the visualization represents the key performance indicator in response to receiving the first user input indicative of the selection of the upgrade to the visualization. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the modified code comprises an extensible markup language (XML) definition or a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) definition. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , comprising transmitting, to the computing device for display via the graphical user interface, respective representations of a plurality of upgrades to different visualizations displayable by the graphical user interface. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the upgrade to the visualization is selected using the respective representations of the plurality of upgrades. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , comprising determining that a user associated with the computing device has a privilege to modify the code that corresponds to the upgrade to the visualization after receiving the first user input indicative of the selection of the upgrade to the visualization. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the reference to the key performance indicator comprises an emphasized portion of the code. 
     
     
       16. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a computing device via a graphical user interface, a first user input indicative of a selection of an upgrade to a visualization displayable by the graphical user interface, wherein the visualization represents a key performance indicator associated with a managed network; 
 transmitting, to the computing device for display via the graphical user interface, code that corresponds to the upgrade to the visualization, wherein transmitting the code causes the graphical user interface to display the code, wherein the displayed code specifies how the visualization presents information associated with the key performance indicator via the graphical user interface, and wherein the displayed code comprises a reference to the key performance indicator; 
 receiving, from the computing device via the graphical user interface, a second user input that modifies the displayed code; 
 transmitting, to the computing device via the graphical user interface, a prompt for permission to process the second user input that modifies the displayed code to generate modified code; 
 receiving, from the computing device via the graphical user interface, a third user input indicative of permission to process the second user input that modifies the displayed code to generate the modified code; and 
 executing the modified code to upgrade the visualization. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the modified code comprises an extensible markup language (XML) definition or a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) definition. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations comprise determining that a user associated with the computing device has a privilege to modify the code that corresponds to the upgrade to the visualization after receiving the first user input indicative of the selection of the upgrade to the visualization. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the reference to the key performance indicator comprises an emphasized portion of the code.